DAC clears proposals worth Rs 860 cr, no decision on S-400

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) on Monday cleared proposals worth Rs 860 crore, including for Barak Missile for warships under the Buy Global category, said informed sources

This was the first meeting of the DAC after Defence Minister Arun Jaitley took charge, and he reviewed various acquisition proposals, several old proposals and directed close monitoring and expeditious clearance of pending capital acquisitions cases, particularly those at advance stages.

The Barak missile will be acquired under the Option Clause from Israel's Rafael Advance Defense Systems Ltd, sources said.

Other proposals cleared by the DAC include procurement of Expendable Bathy Thermograph Systems for the Indian Navy under the Buy Global category under the FMS Route from the US.

It also cleared procurement of equipment to counter mines in the sea, which will be a repeat order under Buy Global category at a cost of approximately Rs 311 crore.

The the apex decision-making body also reviewed several old proposals and Jaitley gave instructions for their speedy processing.

There was no decision however on the S-400 missile system, which was said to be taken up in the meeting.

The deal worth over $5 billion (around Rs 33,000 crore) was signed during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India last year.

India is likely to remove an offset clause from the deal.

--IANS

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